Law 2633 obliges businesses to provide restrooms to people with disabilities

The Congress of Colombia enacted Law 2633 of 2026, published in the Official Gazette number 53,627 on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, which modifies Article 88 of Law 1801 of 2016 to guarantee access to public restrooms for people with disabilities. The regulation, dated September 14, 2026, makes it an obligation for all commercial establishments open to the public to provide restroom services to this population group, even when they are not customers.

The law was signed by the President of the Republic, Abelardo de la Espriella; the Minister of the Interior, Rodrigo Lara Restrepo; and the Director of the Administrative Department for Social Prosperity, Sandra Suárez Pérez, along with the presidents and secretaries of both chambers of Congress.

What the new regulation mandates

The new Article 88 establishes that it is the obligation of each and every commercial establishment open to the public to provide restroom services to children, pregnant women, senior citizens, and people with disabilities or reduced mobility, as well as their caregivers or companions when necessary for their care or mobility.

The service must be provided upon request, regardless of whether they are customers or not. Failure to comply with the regulation entails the imposition of a General Type 1 Fine or the temporary suspension of the activity, in accordance with the Unique Police Process provided for in the code.

Charging, exceptions, and duty of information

The law empowers establishments to charge for the service, a fee that must be regulated by the corresponding territorial entities, provided that in no case may it constitute an act of discrimination against the protected persons. Nevertheless, businesses are urged not to implement differential charging for this population.

Establishments open to the public that have a special regime and are supervised by the Financial Superintendency of Colombia are exempt from this duty, given the inherent risks of their activity.

• It shall be the duty of each establishment to inform, through physical or verbal means, people with disabilities about their right to use the restrooms.
• Those who are denied the service may submit a written or verbal report, in person or virtually, to the National Police, police inspectors, mayors, or special police authorities.
• The procedure will be carried out through the immediate or abbreviated verbal process contemplated in the code.

Outreach campaigns

The competent authorities, through the major and minor mayoralties, via the Government Secretariats, the Health Secretariats, and the Police Inspections and local health directorates, will carry out outreach and awareness campaigns and training programs aimed at the commercial sector.

The law takes effect upon its enactment, promulgation, and publication in the Official Gazette, and repeals any provisions contrary to it.

Impact

The regulation affects millions of citizens with disabilities or reduced mobility across the country and requires the commercial sector to adapt its services, featuring a sanctioning mechanism and an express duty of information. This represents an advancement in inclusion that transforms a gesture of courtesy into a legal obligation enforceable before police authorities.

Source: Official Gazette of Colombia, No. 53.627, September 15, 2026, Public Power – Legislative Branch, p. 1 (official reference: Law 2633 of 2026).